Phelps, Hoff among U.S. team members for Duel in the Pool

Fells Point resident Michael Phelps and 35 other top American swimmers were picked by USA Swimming to compete against a squad of European swimmers at the 2009 Mutual of Omaha Duel in the Pool in Manchester, England, on Dec. 18-19. The event, which will be broadcast on NBC on Dec. 27 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m, will star Olympic gold medalists Phelps, Rebecca Soni, Ryan Lochte and Aaron Peirsol. Towson's Katie Hoff will also compete for the U.S. team. This year's event takes on a new format with Team USA facing a team composed of the top swimmers from Great Britain, Germany and Italy.